Sir, - We congratulate the Minister of State, Liz O'Donnell, for vigorously opposing the Government's plan to reduce next year's overseas aid. The Irish people are noted throughout the world for their generosity to the poor and suffering. Our reputation comes from the generations of selfless teachers, health workers, missionaries, and others who have given their lives to communities in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Giving by individuals also greatly exceeds that of people in other, richer, countries. Irish people's prompt, spontaneous, and warm response to the plight of others is a flower of our culture.
For what reason, then, is our Government throwing away our reputation?
Is Mr McCreevy seriously saying, on behalf of the people of Ireland, that we absolutely need to spend an extra 6 p out of every £100 of GDP on ourselves next year instead of on helping those wretched families in Central America who have just lost everything they possess?
Or, Scrooge-like, does Mr McCreevy believe it is better for us and the world's poor for the money to be piled up as a surplus in the government coffers? Will helping to teach a few extra children in Tanzania, or vaccinate some more babies in Mozambique actually damage our public finances? Or is it the new euro that needs protecting?
Liz O'Donnell has seen at first hand overseas what our generosity has earned us - the respect, the admiration, the status. She understands better the public mood. Well done and thank you! - Yours, etc., Dr Brian Scott,
Executive director, Oxfam Ireland, 19 Clanwilliam Terrace, Dublin 2.
